Ex-Kings coach takes reins at Western Michigan

We're not talking about the top-five tennis player who can't win a major. We're discussing the former Kings coach has laid low for the most part over the past year since he was fired by the St. Louis Blues, serving as a consultant to Switzerland's national team.

But Murray is about to be behind the bench once again -- this time in college.

Multiple reports have indicated that Murray, 60, will be introduced Tuesday as the new coach at Western Michigan. Murray will replace Jay Blashill, who left after one season to take an assistant's job in Detroit under Red Wings coach Mike Babcock.

Murray's demanding and regimented style eventually wore thin in L.A. and St. Louis but he's long been attracted to big challenges and has made a career out of turning the Kings and Blues around in his first couple of years.

Western Michigan fits that criteria as the Broncos finished no better than sixth in the Central Collegiate Hockey Assn. (CCHA) since 2000-01 until Blashill coaxed a fourth-place finish and the program's first NCAA tournament berth in 15 years in his ony season.

There are some players that are currently in the NHL, including Joe Corvo, Jamal Mayers and Mark Letestu. Other notable former Broncos include NHL goaltender and CBC hockey analyst Glenn Healy, Versus studio analyst Keith Jones,former New York Rangers general manager Neil Smith and ESPN host John Saunders.

But there isn't a real tradition of hockey on the Kalamazoo campus as the Broncos have four NCAA appearances in the 37-year history of the program. Murray will now try to continue what Blashill started.

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